There is a connection between our sonship and priesthood. When Luke traces Jesus' lineage down to Adam, he bears witness to Adam’s priesthood by referring to Adam as "the son of God,” a reference to how firstborn sons were set apart for God to serve as priests.

Consecrate to me all the firstborn. Whatever is the first to open the womb among the people of Israel, both of man and of beast, is mine.

Exodus 13:2 (ESV)

 

In Numbers 3:40-51, the Levities replaced the firstborn sons and were dedicated to God, who then appointed them to assist His priests (cf. 2 Chronicles 6:31-32, 48). In Hebrews, Jesus is both the Son of God and the Great High Priest after the order of Melchizedek. We derive our “sonship” from His sonship, and we join in His priestly role by nature of our union with Him. We are a kingdom of New Testament priests who serves God with Christ, through Christ and by Christ.

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?

1 Corinthians 6:19 (NIV)

 

In the New Covenant, our physical bodies become God's temple, where the Spirit lives. This signifies that God's dwelling place is no longer a building, but rather a people set apart for His glory. A physical place for worship, although important, is no longer referred to as a "holy place"; rather, the whole community of believers in Christ is called to be a “holy people” who can worship anywhere and at any time.